Two manufacturing sites in Motherwell are set to close, putting more than 200 jobs at risk, according to Daily Business. Resideo plans to move production abroad, while the neighbouring Honeywell plant is also earmarked for shutdown.
Key points
- Resideo — about 116 jobs at risk as work moves to Brno and Nagykanizsa
- Honeywell — a further 91 jobs could go, with work mainly transferred to Poole
- Unite — the union wants both governments to explore options to keep the jobs
Resideo makes thermostats, boiler and heat pump components, timers and heating controls. The company says it intends to shift production to the Czech Republic and Hungary because those factories cost less to run. Honeywell, which designs and makes electronic hardware and systems, has proposed moving most of its work to Poole in England.
Sharon Graham, the general secretary of Unite, remarked: “It’s simply unsustainable” that “Scotland can’t continue to haemorrhage manufacturing jobs”. Describing the choice to shut the joint site and relocate work away from Scotland as “unforgivable”, she pressed ministers to step in.
The union is asking the Scottish and UK governments to look at every option for retaining jobs at both firms. It argues that losing the combined manufacturing capacity would seriously undermine Scotland’s ambitions for a just transition. According to a Resideo spokesperson, the move came after a consultation, with the focus now on supporting affected staff. Honeywell has been asked to comment.
What it means in practice
For households in Motherwell and the surrounding area, the next few months will be dominated by uncertainty over pay, pensions and the local supply chain. Workers should check what consultation and redundancy terms apply, and look at what support is available through the union and government schemes.
- Jobs — ask your union or employer about redundancy pay, notice periods and redeployment options.
- Local services — shopkeepers and suppliers should plan for lower demand if the plants wind down.
- Government — watch for any Scottish or UK ministerial response on support for affected workers.
